Machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. HAPPE.

QUILTING MACHINE.

' No. 349,090. Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

a INVEN OR ATTORNEY N4 Prsas Fnolul'rthographor. Washington. 0,0

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. HAPPE.

QUILTING MACHINE.

No. 349,090. Patent-ed Sept. 14, 1886.

wlgfi ssfis: INVENTOR WM? Y ATTORNEY N, PETERS. PhNo-Lithognphur, Wuhinflcn. n c

- UNITED STATES ATENT JOHN HAPPE, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK.

QUILTING- MACHINE.

.ZPEZCIFICLTION forming; part. of Letters Patent No. 349,090, dated September 14, 1886.

Application tiled January 19, lSrl.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JOHN HAPPE, of Brook- .lyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, United States of America, have invented eertain new and useful Improvements in Quilting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to quilting-machines for the ornamental stitching of quilts, skirts, cloak-linings, and similar work.

The object of the invent-ion is to provide a machine in which curved lines of stitching may be produced with accuracy and dispatch, and in which various ornamental figures, involving either curved or straight lines of stitching, or both, may be produced at one passage of the article to he stitched through the machine. whereby great rapidity and economy are secured in the production of this kind of work.

In the accompanyingdrawings, which show a convenient arrangement of parts for carrying out the object of this invention, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of this improved quilting machine, partly in vertical transverse section. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof,.with a seg ment of the outer feed-ring broken away. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the machine on an enlarged scale, showing the horizontal rotary fabric-feeding device in a modi lied form. Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional end elevation of one of the supporting radial frames or standards and a segment of the fabric-feeding device supported thereon, showing the mechanism for imparting vertical reciprocatory motion to the needles of one of the sewing machines. Fig. 4. is a detail vertical transverse section on line am: of Fig. 1, showing the shuttle-actuating mechanism for one' Serial No. 24,298. (No model.)

device. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section on line y 3 Fig. 2, of one of the sow ing-machincs adapted tobe adj usted obliquely to the radius of the horizontal rotary fabricfeeding device. Fig. 9 is a detail view of ornamental wave-stitches produced on this machine. Fig. 10 is a top view of the horizontal rotary fabric-feeding device provided with pattern-cams for controlling the reciprocatory movements of the sewing-machines.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

A A in the drawings represent a number of upright frames, which are arranged in a circle i radially to a common center and secured to the the center and at their outer ends at the cin cu m ference of the circle with horizontal yokeshaped arms A, arranged at right angles, or nearly so, to the frames. The arms A support in bearings at their opposite ends anti friction rollers a. the axes of which are radial to said circle. The outer ends of the rollers a and the inner ends of the rollers a are provided with flanges. A horizontal rotary quiltingframe or fabric supporting and feeding device is supported upon and adapted to rotate 011 said anti-friction rollers. This horizontal rotary quilting-frame may consist ofa single ring, B, as shown in Fig. 2, to the circumference of which the material or article to be quilted is held by means of pins or otherwise, in the usual manner of holding articles to quiltingframes; or it may consist of the ring B in connection with a smaller ring, B, arranged concentric thereto, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one edge of the fabric to be quilted being attached to one ring and the opposite edge thereof to the other ring. The ring B is supported on the outer series of rollers, a, in the yokeshaped arms A, and the smaller ring, B, is supported on the inner series of rollers, a. The flanges on said rollers serve to keep the rings in place. Vhen the ring B is not used, the rollers a may be dispensed with. These rings are provided with cogs or teeth, whereby they are engaged by pinions for rotating them, which teeth are preferably countersunk in the under side of the rings, so as not to project below the level thereof, as in that case they horizontal rotary motion around their common center by a suitable actuating mechanism, which, as shown, consists of an inclined shaft, I), supported in hearings on one of the frames A, and provided with a smaller pinion, b, at its inner end, and a larger pinion, 0-, near its outer end, said pinions working, respectively,

with the circumferential racks of the inner I Intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 7) by means of and outer feed -rings.

an adjustable pawl-andratchct mechanism, which is supported on a bracket of one of the frames A, and comprises a ratchet-wheel, d", at the outer end of the shaft 1), apawl, d", pivoted to the upper end of an oscillatory lever,

pinion being of sufficient length to remain in mesh with the crown-wheel (7, while following the laterally-reciprocating motion of the sewing-machine carriage D. The radial shaftf turnsin bearings of the sewing-machine carriage D, and is furthermore guided in fixed sleeves of the standard A while following the laterally-reciproeating motion of the carriage D. The oscillating armsf are slotted at their upper ends,so as to provide the required play for the connecting-pins of the shuttle-drivers, the arms being kept in contact with the cams by spiral springsf", as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The shuttle-driversf are guidedin grooves l below the shuttle-races, which are formed of d, and operated by a link, (1, connecting it with a crank-wheel, d, on the outer end of a horizontal shaft, (I The lever d is provided with a series of holes or pins, with either one of which the link may be connected to regulate the stroke of the lever d and the de gree of motion of the fabric-feeding device at each step. The horizontal shaft (Z turns in bearings of the yoke A of said frame, and is provided at its inner end with a pinion, which meshes with a crownwvheel, (1, on the central vertical driving-shaft, G. The skirts, quilts, or other work secured to the quilting-frame is thus fed in a circular horizontal direction intermittently to a series of organized sewing-machines, D D, which are supported and guided in the radial frames A, each of said machines being mounted on acarriage, D, to which radial reciprocatory 1notion is imparted from the central driving-shaft, U, by asuitable transmitting mechanism. The transmitting mechanism shown consists of a gearavhecl, c, and pinion c, cam 0', connect ing-rod c,adjustable springpawl and ratchetwheel 6 c and a vertical shaft, 0', the latter having a grooved horizontal cam, 6 at its up per end, as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 5, and (3. The grooved cam c engages a pin, a, at the under side of the sewing-machine carriage I), which receives its proper laterallyreciproeating motion by the eccentricity of the cam-track and the adjustable spring-pawl 0, according to the special ornamental figure to be stitched by each sewing-machine D.

To the sewing-machine carriage D are pivoted the arms f of the shuttle-drivers f, which arms are oscillated by cams f", keyed to a radial shaft, 1'', that is revolved by an end pinion, f, and the center crown-wheel, (1, said a fixed top plate, 9, attached to the under side of the needle-plate, and a downwardly-movable bottom plate, g,which is guided on fixed downwardly-extending rodsof the top plate and supported upon cushionirig-springs of the same.

The object of the movable bot-tom plate, is to facilitate the removal of any shuttles for supplying them with thread or replacing them by simply lowering the bottom plate sufficiently to get at the sh uttles,in which case the pins of the shuttlc-driversj" move in the slots of the oscillating armsf.

Several shuttles may be arranged in the sameraee, one back of the other, shown in Figs. 4 and 4, according as the machine is made with two or more rows or gangs of needles, in which case the shuttle driver has forked arms.

Each sewing-machine If) is arranged with one or more gangs of needles, which are at tached to one or more needlebars, to which vertical]y-reciprocat-ing motion is imparted by means of a grooved cam, h, at the outer end of the radial shaft/"l The glOOVHl cam ll engages a fixed pin, it, of one of the vertical guide-rods ll of the needle bar or bars, said guiderods sliding in holes of bracket-arms h" of the sewing machine carriage l). The

arms h" extend beyond the outer feed-ring, l5,

so as to clear the same entirely. The pressure-feet 71. are made of spring-steel and applied to a horizontal rod, If, parallel to and below the needle-bar, and are pressed down upon the fabric by fixed pins 71 of the needlebar, which pass through holes of the support-- ing-rod of the spring-presser on the descent of the needle-bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2". The several sewing-machines are arranged at different points more or less distant from the common center, and each is intended to produce a certain specific figure, design, or part thereof upon the quilt, skirt, or other material.

An entire quilt or one or more skirts may be stitched in a variety of ornamental stitching by one rotation of the feed ring or rings, whereby the article or articles are passed successively through the different sewing-ma chines, one sewing-machine performing diagonal stitching, another parallel wave-lines, a third-diamonds, a fourth circular stitching,

quilts or cloak-linings, the inner circular feed, ring, 13, is preferablydispensed with and a central disk, 0, substituted, said disk turn-' ing loosely in suitable bearings of the central driving-shaft and following the motion of the outer feed-ring. In this case the center or inner edge of the work is pinned to the disk 0, while the outer edge is secured to the ring B. Forstitching skirts, the interior feed-ring, B, is used, in which case as many skirts as can be stretched between the rings are secured thereto.

For the purpose of producing very close and intersecting lines of ornamentalstitches, one or more of the sewing-machines are not placed radially to the feed-rings, but are arranged to swing around a vertical swiveled shaft, so as to be capable of adjustment through an angle of ninety degrees to the radius of the feedrings. In Figs. 2 and 8 such an adjustable sewing machineis sho\vn,the carriage of which is made to swing around a vertical shaft, 1', which is swiveled at its lower end and supported below the swiveled portion on a suitable step-bearing, and at the upper end in a curved bearing of the sewing-machine carriage, the vertical shaft serving, also, for transmitting reciprocating motion to the sewingmaehine carriage from the central drivingshaft by means of a crown-wheel and pinion, horizontal shaft, a 'set of bevel-gears, i, at the lower end, and a set of bevel-gears, 2' at the upper end of the swiveled shaft The upper bevel-wheels impart revolving motion to a horizontal shaft, i, (corresponding to the shaft f of the non-swiveling machines) which carries the shuttle-driving cams, and at its outer end a grooved cam, 71, by which verticallyreciprocating motion is imparted to the needle bar or bars above the fabric, in the same manner as in the vertically-arranged sewing-machines. The swiveled transmittingshaft is enabled to follow the laterally-reciprocatingmotion of the sewing-machine carriage, which is imparted by an interchangeable pattern, Z, attached to the circumference of the outer feed-ring, as shown in Figs. 2 and S. The pattern Z bears upon an anti-friction roller, Z, of the sewing machine carriage, Which latteris held in contact with the pattern by a spiral spring, Z", at the opposite end of the carriage D, as shown in Fig. 8. l

The sewing-machine D may be readily adjusted through an angle of nearly ninety degrees to the radius of the feed-rings drawn through shaft/i by swinging its carriage around said shaft. For this purpose, as well as for admitting the reciprocating motion of the carriage in every position in which it is placed, it is supported on ball-shaped anti-friction rollers i, which are retained between concentric flanges of a platform, i which is attached centrally to the upright standard A of the sewing-machine, as shown in Fig. 8. The platform i has a central opening wide enough to admit the oscillating motion of the swiveled shaft in following the motion of the sewing-machine carriage, the upper beariug of the shaft having an inner convex face to admit of this ntotion. According to the greater or less inclination ofthe sewing-machine to the radius of the feed-rings passing through the swiveled shaft, the stitches may be run more or less close to each other, which .could not otherwise be accomplished, as the shuttles could not be placed so close to each other. In this case, however, the shuttles have full play, while the stitches are run close to each other by the oblique position of the machine. Irregular work of all kinds may be produced, according to the shape of the pattern-frame. By employing oneor two sewing-machines which can be set into oblique positions, the range of the work accomplished by my improved machine is extended, and thereby almost every desired ornamental configuration of stitches obtained. In this connection I may also state that the laterally-reciprocating motion may be imparted to the sewing-machine carriages by means of patterncams of suitable shapes, which are secured to the circumference of the outer feed-ring, said pattern-cams engaging anti-friction rollers of the carriages.

In case it is desired to produce an oval, oblong, or other pattern on the quilt, in place of the circular one, I attach to the outer feedring an extension patterlrframe of oval, ob-

long, or other shape, as shown in Fig. 10.

This extension-frame may have an undulating or other irregular outline, by which the sew ing-machines, or those of them designed to be operated by this frame, are correspondingly moved so as to reproduce the pattern of the extension-frame throughout the quilt or other fabric. My improved machine is thus not confined to circular work only, but also adapted for work of other shapes by the addition of differently-shaped extensionpatterns to the outer feed-ring.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a quilting-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device adapted to feed thc'fabric in a circle or are of a circle and a horizontally-reciprocating sew ing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabric-feeding device.

2. In a quilting-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device adapted to feed the fabric in a circle or are of a circle and av horizontally reciprocating and swiveling sewing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabric-feeding device.

3. In a quilting-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a horizontal rotary fabric-feeding device adapted to feed the fabric in a circle or are of a circle and provided with a patterircam, a horizontally-re ciprocat-ing sewing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabric-feeding device, and means for holding said machine in contact with said cam.

4. In a quilting-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device adapted to feed the fabric in a circle or are of a circle, organized sewing-machines arranged to converge toward each other within the circle traversed by said fabric supporting and feeding device, and means for imparting an iiitermittent step-by-step motion to said device.

5. In a quilting-maehine, the combination, substantially as set forth, with a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device consisting of two concentric feed-rings, of a sewing-machine arranged to ope ate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabric-feeding device.

6. In a quilti[lg-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of radially-arrauged supporting-fratnes having flanged guide-rollers, a. horizontal rotary fabric supportingand feeding device supported on said rollers, and a sewing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabricfeeding device.

7. In a quilting-machinc, the combination, substantially as set forth, with an intermittently-moving horizontal rotary fabric sup porting and feeding device, of a reciprocating sewing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabric-feeding device, the carriage of which is adapted to swing around a vertical swivcled shaft, and supported on a flanged circularplatform, and spherical anti-friction rollers, whereby it is adapted to be set at an oblique angle to the radius of the feeding device.

8. In a quilting-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of an intermittt'mtlymoving horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device provided on its periphery with a pattern cam, a sewingmachine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabric-feeding device, the carriage of which is actuated by the pattern-cam, and a spring for keeping said carriage in contact with said 11 attern-cam.

9. In a quilting-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of two concentric feed-rings provided with cogs and a radial shaft having pinions of different sizes engaging the cogs of the inner and outer feed-rings, whereby a harmonious feed motion is imparted to said rings.

10. In a quilting-machine, the combination of a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device, a vertical shaft, :1 gear-wheel attached to said shaft, :1 crown-wheel attached to said shaft, a series of radial shafts provided at their inner ends with pinions which mesh with said crown-wheel and at their outer ends with cam-disks, vcrtically-reciprocating needle-carrying arms actuated by said cam-disks, horizontally reciprocating sewing machine carriages, and mechanisms connecting said carriages with said gear-wheel, substantially as set forth.

11. In a quiltirig-machine, the combination of a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device, a vertical shaft, a gear-wheel attached to said shaft, a crown-wheel attached to said shaft, a series of radial shafts provided at their inner ends with pinions which mesh with said crown-wheel and at their outer ends with cam-disks, vertically rcciprocating needlc-earrying arms actuated by said cam-disks,

horizontally reciprocating sewing machine carriages, mechanisms connecting said earriages with said gear-wheel, and mechanism connecting said crown-wheel with said horizontal rotary labric-feer'ling device for act 11- ating the latter, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, in a quilting-11inchinc, of a horizontal rotary fabric-feeding toothed ring, a horizontally-reciprocating sewing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said feeding-ring, a pinion meslr ing with said toothed ring, and a ratchet mechanism for actuating the shaft of said pinion intermittently, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in aquilting-machine. of a horizontal rotary fabric-feeding toothed ring, a horizontally-reciprocating sewing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said feeding-ring, a gear meshing with said feeding-ring, and a ratchet meclr anism for actuating the shaft of said gear in termittently, said ratchet mechanism being adjustable, whereby the step-bystcp motion of the feeding-ring is regulated, substantially as described.

it. The combination, in a quiltirig-machine,

of a horizontal rotary fabricfeeding and supporting device, a horizontally-reciprocating sewing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabric'fceding device, and mechanism for reciprocating said sewingmachineintermittently, consisting of a cam engaged by a pin of the sewing-machine carriage and ratchet mechanism for intermittently actuating the shaft of said cam, substantially as described.

[5. The combination, in a onilting-machine, of a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device, a horizontally-rcciprocating sewing-machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said rotary fabricfceding device, and mechanism for reciprocating said sewing-maehincintermitteutly, consisting of a cam engaged by a pin of the sewing-machine carriage and ratchet mechanism for intermittently actuating the shaft of said cam, said ratchet mechanism being adjustable,

whereby the steps of the sewing-machine earriage are regulated, substantially as set forth.

16. In a quilting-machine, the combination of a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device, a ratchet mechanism for imparting an intermittent motion thereto, a horizontally reciprocating sewing machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said fabric-feeding device, and a ratchet mechanism for intermittently moving said sewing-machine horizontally, substantially as set forth.

17. In a quilting-machine, the combination of a horizontal rotary fabric supporting and feeding device, a ratchet mechanism for im' parting an intermittent motion thereto, a horizontally reciprocating sewing machine arranged to operate within the circle traversed by said fabric-feeding device, and a ratchet mechanism for intermittently moving said sewing-machine horizontally, said ratchet mechanisms being severally ad j ustable, whereby the horizontal step-by-step motions of said feeding device and said sewing-machine are regulated, substantially as described.

18. In a quilting-machine, the combination, with a sewing-machine and a fabric-carrier, upon which a fabric may be held extended and rotated between the upper and lower arms of asewing-machine, of movable supports permitting the bodily movement of one of said parts in a direction transverse to the line of rotation of the carrier, whereby the lines of stitching will be formed in various positions on the extended fabric, substantially as herein described.

19. In a quilting-machine, the combination, with a sewing-machine and a fabric-carrier, upon which a fabric may be held extended and rotated between the upper and lower arms of the sewing-machine, of movable supports for the sewing 1 machine, permitting its bodily movement in a direction transverse to theline of rotation of the carrier, whereby the lines of stitching will be formed in various positions on the extended Ll'abric, substantially as herein described.

20. In a quilting-machine, the combination, with asewing-machine, of a'rotary fabric carrier, on which the fabric may be stretched or extended in a plane perpendicular to the needle, and the axis of which is parallel with the needle, and a supporting-track, on which the carrier may turn on its axis and between the arms of the sewing-machine, substantially as herein described.

22. In a quilting-machine, the combination, with'a sewing-machine and fabric-supports, of a rotary carriage for one of said parts having its axis parallel with the needle, and supports which permit the rotation of said carriage in a plane perpendicular to the needle, to change the relative position of the needle andfabrie, substantially as herein described.

23. In a quilting-machine, the combination, with a sewing-machine and a rotary fabriccarrier, 011 which a fabric may be stretched or extended in a plane perpendicular to the needle, and the axis of which is parallel with the said needle, of supports for one of said parts movable to vary the distance between the axis of the fabric-carrier and the needle, substantially as herein described.

24. In a quilting-machine. the combination, with a sewing-machine and a rotary fabriccarrier, on which a fabric may be stretched-or extended in a plane perpendicular to the needie, and the axis of which is parallel with said needle, of supports for the sewing-machine movable to carry the needle toward and from the axis of the fabric carrier, substantially as herein described.

25. In a quiltingmaehine, the combination, with a sewing-machine and a rotary fabric, carrier, on which a fabric may be stretched or extended in a plane perpendicular to the needle, and the axis of which is parallel with the said needle, of a carriage for supporting one of said parts, supports on which said carriage may be moved transversely to vary the distance between the axis of the fabric-carrier and needle, and pattern mechanism for controlling the transverse movement of such carriage, substantially as herein described.

26. In a quilting-machine, the combination, with a sewingmachine and a rotary fabriccarrier, on which a fabric may be stretched or extended in a plane perpendicular to the needle, and the axis of which is parallel with said needle, of a carriage for the sewing-machine movable in a transverse direction, to carry the needle toward and from the axis of the fabric-carrier, and pattern mechanism for controlling the movements of the sewing-machine carriage, substantially as herein described.

In testimony thatl claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name,in presence of two witnesses,this 10th day of January, 1881.

JOHN HAPPE. Witnesses:

PAUL GoErEL, CARL KARP. 

